Wire-stretcher



(No Model.)

L. A. SGARBROUGH.

WIRE STRETGHER.

Patented Apr.'4', 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT LEMUEL A. SCARBROUGH, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 494,895, dated April 4, 1893. Application filed August 8, 1892. Serialllo. 442,519. (Nomodehl To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, LEnUnL A. SOARBROUGH, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in \Vire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to wire stretchers and particularly to that class thereof known as hand lever stretchers.

The object of my invention is to provide an exceedingly cheap, simple, durable and efiicient stretcher of this description, which can be operated by any one.

A further object is to provide a stretcher which can be used to force the wire, to be secured, against the post without carrying the stretcher around said post.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the peculiar construction of the several parts and their novel combination or arrangement all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a side view of my improved stretcher. Fig. 2 is an end view of a portion of the same, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the manner of using my improved stretcher.

In carrying out my invention I employ a handle A, preferably of wood, and of any suitable dimensions; and in the forward end of said handle I produce a slot at extending a considerable distance inward, the mouth of said slot being flared as shown at a to facilitate the insertion of wire inthe same. Stout metal plates B B are secured upon opposite sides of the handle, at its forward end, said plates being slotted at b to correspond with the slot in the handle, and at the extreme forward end of each member are formed the laterally projecting prongs or spurs O C. The entire device is usually about thirty inches long, the metallic plates being about ten inches in length and the slot eight inches. These plates are preferably set into the sides flush with the body of the handle and secured thereto by rivets or screws which pass entirely through the handle.

In operation the wire to be stretched is attached at one end to the starting post and carried forward any number of posts. The wire is picked up at this forward post by means of the handle, the wire between two barbs entering the slot at the forward end. The handle is then raised to the desired height and the prongs placed against the forward side of post at that height. By throwing the free end of the handle forward the wire will be stretched taut, the barb binding against the side of the metal plate while the handle bears upon the post as a fulcrum. By pressing the lever endwise thewire will be thrown against the face of the post ready for attachment and the handle can be held by the body while both hands are employed in securing the wires with staples. The prongs or spurs enter the side of the post and prevent the handle from slipping or dropping and the metal plates prevent the barb from cutting away and enlarging the slot. In case smooth wire is employed it is looped around one of the members. By constructing the device partly of wood and partly of metal a much lighter device is provided, but if desired the entire device can be made of metal and in a single piece.

From the above it will be seen that I provide a'cheap and simple stretcher which will make it unnecessary to handle the wire with the hands and risk cutting and scratching ones self while handling barbed wire. The slot is one-fourth inch wide at the mouth and back six inches from the beginning of the slot, while for two inches it is gradually reduced until it is only one-eighth of an inch in width at the beginning of the opening, thus making it adjustable to thick or thin wire and preventing the barbs of any barb wire from entering or passing through the slot.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is-

1. In awire stretcher, the combination with a handle bifurcated at its forward end, of the metallic plates secured upon the sides of the forward end, said plates being bifurcated like the handle and provided with laterally proj ecting prongs at their forward ends, substantially as shown and described.

2. An improved wire stretcher consisting of a handle bifurcated at its forward end and proplates having laterally projecting "prongs or vided with laterally projecting prongs upon the exterior of each member, substantially as shown and described.

3. An improved wire stretcher composed of a wooden handle slotted at one end and having a flaring mouth, and metallic plates slouted to correspond with the end of handle, said spurs at the end of each member, substantially to as shown and described.

LEMUEL A. SCARBROUGH.

Witnesses: H. G. POLK,

B. A. SHEPHERD. 

